Method and machine for forming paper



P 3, 1947. H. M. OSTERTAG ET AL 2,418,600

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER Filed Feb. 1, 1944 5 Sheets-Shee t 1 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 H. M. OSTERTAG ET AL METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER Filed Feb. 1. 1944 U h. I I I h l l l /I &

I E5 Q I u I W April 8, 1947.

April 1947. H. M. OSTERTAG ET AL 2,418,600

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER Filed Feb. 1, 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 p l 194-7. H. M. OSTERTAG ET AL 2,418,600

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER Filed Feb. 1. 1944 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 P 1947. H. M. OSTERTAG ET AL 2,413,600

METHOD AND MACHINE FOR FORMING PAPER Filed Feb. 1, 1944 5- Sheets-Sheet 5 sumac Patented Apr. 8, 1947 PAPER Harry M. Ostertag, Drexel Hill, and Francis 0.

Boylan, Norwood, Pa., assignors, to Scott Paper Company, Chester, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Application February 1, 1944, Serial No. 520,664

is Claims.

A primary object of this invention is to provide an improved method and machine for producing paper, said machine and method affording excellent web formation of substantially any desired character under more positive and precise control and at speeds of operation materially in excess of those obtainable by known practicable methods and machines of the prior art.

Other and more specific objects, as well as the novel characteristics of the machine and of the method which contribute jointly to the functional improvement, will appear hereinafter.

In the attached drawings;

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the wet end of a machine made in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 is an enlarged detail view of a portion of the wet end of the machine shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view on the line 3-3, Figure 2;

Figure 4 is an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating certain details of the machine not shown in the preceding figures;

v Figure 5 is a sectional view on the line 5-5, Figure 4;

Figure 6 is a fragmentary sectional view 11- lustrating structural details of the breast roll and associated suction apparatus;

Figure 7 is an elevational view from the left hand end of Figure 6, and

Figures 8 and 9 are front elevational views of certain gauging and indicating devices constituting elements of the means for control and regulation of the machine, as hereinafter set forth.

Referring to the drawings, the machine comprises essentially a traveling forming wire 5 and a breast roll 2 about which the wire is trained in conventional manner. Dilute paper stock, in the form of the usual water. suspension, is brought to the wire through an enclosed passage 3 which, contrary tothe conventional practice in machines of the Fourdrinier type, .delivers the stock to the wire within an area 4 wherein the wire still finds direct support upon the roll 2.

Formation of the web upon the wire occurs almost entirely within this area 4, and accordingly the area will be referred to hereinafter as the forming zone. In effect the zone is defined by the terminal end of the passage 3 and is enclosed by 2 the upper and side walls of the passage. In the present instance, the passage 3 approaches the forming zone in a straight line tangential to the periphery of the roll and in alignment with the diverging line of the wire.

In order to provide for the required drainage of water of the stock suspension through the wire within the forming zone, and to facilitate rev -moval of the drained waters, the roll 2 is constructed as shown in Figures 2 and 3. The outer peripheral portion of the cylinder is provided with a plurality of cells 5, the walls of which are 'formed by a series of radially disposed baflles or partitions 6. These partitions, in the present instance are set into and project from the cylindrical shell 1 of the roll and .are disposed in the axial direction so that the cells 5 extend continuously substantially from one end of the roll to the other. The shell 1 is provided with apertures 8 which establish communication between the inner ends of the cells 5 and the interior of the roll,'and it will be noted by reference to Figure 3 that these apertures 8 are arranged in closely set series extending longitudinally of the respective cells. Preferably the outer end of each of the apertures is counter sunk, as illustrated. Set into the outer edges of the partitions 6 is a wire 9 which extends in continuous convolutions from one end of the roll to the other; or a plurality of wires may be used each embracing the periphery of'tlie roll. As shown in Figure 3, the outer edges of the wires 9 are flush with the outer edges of the partition 6 and these: wires,

with the partitions, form a backing for a wire 10 of coarse mesh which embraces the cylinder and forms a suitable support for the forming wire I.

In the interior of the roll 2 andextending from one end of the roll to the other is a casing H which is mounted as hereinafter described for angular adjustment about the axis of the roll, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 4. One wall, l3, of this casing extends toward the inner surface of the shell 1 and carries a sealing element I4 which is resiliently pressed against the said surface by springs l5. The opposite wall 16 of the casing terminates in a curved surface I! which defines a segment of a cylinder coaxial with the roll, and this surface l'l forms a seat for a bar l8 constituting an element of a structure I9 which "3 is supported on and secured .to a shaft i2'and is adjustable angularly about the axis of the roll by rotary movement of said shaft. The structure I9 comprises a second bar 2I-which,like the bar l8, extends over substantially the full length of the roll. Supported on and bridging the space between the bars I8 and M is a longitudinal member 22, this member being urged toward the inner surface of the shell I, by springs 23, 23 and carrying spaced sealing elements 24 and 25 which bean against the said inner surface. The longitudinal member 22 isapertured, as indicated at 26 sothat the space between the elements 24 and 25 at the inner surface of the shell I may communicate with the interior of the casing II; and seated on an apertured flange 21 extending between the bars I8 and' 2!, is an apertured valve plate 28 which may beadjusted to regulate the effective opening through the flange 2i. i

As shown in Figure 6, the shell i has a hollow trunnion Ia which is journaled in roller bearings 1b in the fixed frame of the machine. The casing II is also provided with a hollow trunnion Ila which extends through the trunnion Ia and naled in the said frame, and this shaft carries a worm wheel I03 which meshes with a worm I04 also mounted on frame and adjustable through a hand wheel I05. The shaft I2 and the structure I9 are angularly adjustable about the roll axis and with respect to the 'casing II through an arm I06 on the outer end of the shaft. This arm is engaged on opposite sides respectively by set screws I01, II" which are threaded through lugs I08, I08 on the cap IIc. By manipulating the screws, the position of the arm may be adjusted between and within limits imposed by the spacingof the said lugs. The valve 28 may be adjusted by way'of a hand screw I09 threaded into the exposed end of the shaft I2, these elements being connected by transmission means including a lever I I pivotally mounted at I I I on the structure I9 and connected to the valve; a second lever II2 pivotally supported atv H3 on the shaft l2 and extending through a slot IE4 in the shaft into operative engagement with the screw I09;

. and a rod H5 which connects the levers and carries a spring I I6 acting to resiliently maintain the-lever I I2 against the end of the adjusting screw I09.

The interior of the casing II is connected througha port 29 and duct 39 with a suitable evacuator 32, see Figure 6, and the said duct contains a valve 3I so that regulated suctionmay be impressed. upon the spaces between the. sealing elements I4 and 24 and between the elements 24 and 25, this suction being impressed upon the at the moment are exposed within said'spaces.

The suction thereby is impressed through'the apertures 8 upon the associated cells 5 within the areas confined by the sealing elements.. The.

strength of the suction in the primary area between the elements I4 and 24 may be regulated by adjustment of the valve 3 I. andthe-suction in the secondary area between the elements24 and 25 may be independently regulated by means of the valve plate 28.

The total scope of the combined suction areas in the circumferential direction may be varied by adjustment of the structure I9 as described above. The position of the suction area with respect to the forming zone may be regulated by adjustment of the casing II, also as described.

ure 2, the suction area could be made to act upon the cells 5 in advance of the forming zone, and ifunder these conditions substantial evacuation of the said cells were desired, in advance of the zone, such for example as a suitable apron overlying the wire, could be provided to seal the outer ends thereof within the area of approach.

That portion of the passage 3 which immedi-' ately adjoins the forming zone 4 extends in the present instance irf a substantially horizontal direction and approximately tangential to the periphery of the roll l as previously set forth. The upper wall of this portion of the passage 3 is formed by an adjustable section 33, see Figures 1, 4, and 5, which isslidably mounted in the fixed frame 34 of the machine for-adjustment in a direction lonigtudinally of the passage 3, said section 33 being interlocked with frame through the medium of splines 35, one at each side of the frame 34, as shown in Figure 5. Adjustment of the section 33 may be effected by actuation through a hand wheel 33 of a relatively fixed nut 31 on a threaded rod. 38 attached to and projecting from the'rear end of the said section. The hand wheel 36 is connected to a worm 39 whichis journaled in a bracket on the frame 34 and which meshes with a worm wheel on the nut 37. The bottom wall 42 and side walls 43 of this portion of the passage, see Fig. 5, are in the tion 33 will have the effect of regulating the length (in the direction of wire movement) of the forming zone. The actual length of the zone for any setting of the section 33 maybe indicated by a pointer 44 on the said section and a suitable related scale 45 on the frame, see Fig. 1.

Means is provided on the adjustable section 33 for varying the shape and cross-sectional area 1 of the end portion of the passage 3 which immediately adjoins the forming zone 4. This means comprises, in the'present instance, a pair of adjustable plates 46 and 41 forming parts of the upper wall of the passage. Each of the plates extends completely'across the top of the passage 3. The edge of the plate 46 which is relatively remote to the forming zone is hinged to the body of the section 33, as indicated at 48, so as to provide for adjustment of the plate about an axis portions of the inner surface of the shell which extending transversely of the passage 3 and parallel to the lower wall thereof. The hinge joint consists in the present instance of a rigid cylindrical rod 49 at the edge of the plate which i is supported in a semi-cylindrical socket 5| in the section 33' by means of a retaining bar 52,

said retaining bar engaging the surface of the f rod 49 and forming with the latter a sealed joint a member 53 which is vertically adjustable in the section 33. The member 53 which is shaped a wrench or hand wheel'applied to the squared I extremity 58, the member 53 may be elevated and lowered as required. As illustrated in Figure 5, the respective rods 54 are provided at their lower ends with oppositely projecting trunnions 59, 59 which fit into bores in blocks 6|, 6| secured by cap screws 62 to the top of the member 53.

As shown in Figure 4, the near edge of the plate 41 is attached to the plate 46 and member 53 by means of a joint 63 corresponding to the joint 4952 previously described, so that adjustment of the plate 46 necessarily entails an adjustment of the plate 41. The other transverse edge of the plate 41 is connected by means of a hinge joint 64 to the lower end of a member 65 which is suspended in the section 33 for vertical adjustment in a manner corresponding to the member 53 previously described. The joint 64 corresponds in principle to the joint 49-'52, as illustrated in Figure 4. It will be apparentthat by means of the adjustable sections 46 and 41 and the several associated joints the shape and cross-sectional area of the end portion of the passage 3 may be substantially modified as hereinafter more fully set forth.

Attached to and extending from the forward edge of the plate 41 and overlying the forming zone 4 is a flexible cover element 66. to the top of the element 66 approximately at the midsection thereof is a rigid cylindrical rod 61; and a corresponding rod 68 is similarly secured to the outer edge of the element. These rods, which extend over the transverse width of the element, constitute elements of individual joints corresponding to the joint 64, and by these joints the cover element is attached to two vertically adjustable members 69 and H similar to the member 65 and in like manner suspended in the section 33; The details of the suspension, which corresponds also,,to the suspension means for the member 53, are illustrated in Figure 4. Thus the threaded rods 12, which support the member 69 and which correspond to the rods 54 previously'described, are supported in turn in nut 13 which is journaled in bearings 14 in a housing 15 at the top of the section 33. Each of the nuts comprises a worm wheel 16,'and these wheels mesh with worms 11 on a shaft 18, see also Figure 5, by means of which the nuts may be simultaneously actuated to raise or lower the rods 12. The corresponding shafts for adjusting the members 65 and H are indicated at 19 and 8!, respectively, in Fig. 4. The rod 68 may be jointed, if desired, so that the cover element 66, or the outer terminal edge thereof, may be made to curve slightly in the transverse direction if necessary.

The stream of dilute stock is delivered by Way of the passage 3 to the forming zone at a velocity which may or may not be the same as the speed of the forming wire. Drainage of water through the wire within said zone results in the formation on the Wire of a mat of the stock fibers, and pressure conditions in the stream within the forming area will depend on factors of velocity,

Attached friction, and mat resistance. Regulated suction may be applied to the wire within the forming zone as previously set forth, this suction being sufllcient to supplement the stream pressure and to drain through the wire within the forming zone all of the water of the stream with the exception of a minor portion thereof which is permitted to flow onto the wire as the latter leaves the zone. In Fourdrinier practice, it has been an accepted limitation that stock should be directed over the wire at a velocity substantially equal to, or somewhat below, the speed of the wire and that the hydraulic pressure of the stock behind the slice must be adjusted to the amount necessary to produce such velocities. By removing all but a minor portion, say 5%, of undrained stock suspension within the forming zone and directing this remaining small amount onto the wire in the direction of wire travel over but not impinging on the formed mat carried thereby, combined velocity and static pressures may be utilized which produce'spouting velocities greatly exceeding the wire velocity without causing disruption of formation to any noticeable degree. Preferably such minor portion will be less than 10% of the suspension but not less than say 2%,,

On the other hand the inventioncontemplates the provision of a suction source of such. capacity as to make available vacuum sufiiciently high to effect drainage of all or substantially all of the water from the stream within the forming zone when the static pressure of the stream has been reduced to a minimum or a negligible amount. While the use of suction as. described above, either with or without hydraulic pressure, is generally desirable, the machine as constituted may also be operated in the absence of suction by utilizing hydraulic pressure alone to effect drainage into the periphery of the breast roll while the wire still finds support on the roll. In such operation the stream of water discharged from the roll, as hereinafter described, will underlie the upper reach of the wire more closely and may be diverted to the conventional saveall pan by a suitable deflector as illustrated in Figure 1.

flowing into the peripheral portion of the roll, l

the stream may remain substantially intact, as illustrated in Figure 2. To this end also it is desirable that the depth of the cells shall not exceed the depth of the stream as it enters the forming area to an extent materially greater than is necessary to accommodate the water drained through the wire. Thus, the dilute stock remains substantially in the form of a single stream throughout the forming zonewith the major portion of the fibres segregated to the, upper side of the forming wire duringits passagem; As each of the cells 5 leaves,

through said zone.

the primary suction area, which is defined bythe sealing elements l4 and 24, it comes immediately under the influence of the suction within 5 the secondary area, defined by the sealing elements 24 and 25. The suction within the secondary area opposes centrifugal force tending to throw the water outwardly from the roll withemployed in Fourdrinier machines.

out, however, drawing the water into the interior of the roll. The secondary area has been provided to permit adjustment of the vacuum ary suction zone centrifugal force may act with-' out opposition to displace the water from the roll in a substantially tangential direction, as indicated in Figure 2, into the space between the upper and lower reaches of the wire and be independently regulated by-means 01' the valve 28.

As a further element of the regulating system,

' illustrated in Figures '1 and '7, means is provided for accurately determining the velocity of the stock entering the forming area. It is apparent that the cross-sectional area of the passage 3 at the point of delivery to the forming zone varies into a saveall pan of the type conventionally In this operation, the fibers are continuously segregated from amajor portion of the water of the stream by and on the wire entirely within the short length of the. latter which is exposed within the forming zone, and at the terminal end of the 'forming zone the single stream of liquid is divided so that the major portion of the stream,

from which the fibres have been withdrawn, may be directed in a path diverging from the fibre laden wire and from the minor portion of the stream which is directed over the top of the wire. This method of water removal permits the practical use of suction as a drainage means without the limitations on speed of operation which would arise were it necessary to dispose of the large volume of water through the suction means. 1

Incorporated in the machine with the aforedescribed forming means, is a highly flexible and accurate system of regulation. A means for regulating the shape and cross-sectional area of. that portion of the passage 3 adjoining the forming zone, has been previously described, together with means for adjusting the contour and position of the cover element 66 which immediately overlies the forming zone. Means is also pr'ovid ed forregulating the volume of stock suspension passing through the passage 3 to the forming 'zone. In the present instance, the suspensionis delivered to the passage by a pump 82, see Figure 8, and interposed between the pump and the passage 3 is the usual spreader which may be of conventional form and which functions to distribute the suspension from the discharge duct 83 of the pump with uniformity to'the relatively wide and shallow passage 3 which, as previously set forth, extends across the full width of the tor 88' operatively connected to the movable element of the valve as illustrated. Conventional means is also provided for regulating the speed of the wire, and a tachometer for indicating the wire speed, say in feet per minute, is included at 89 on the panel 86. A further important element of theregulating system resides in the means i1- lustrated in Figure 6 for regulating the suction at the forming zone. As previously set forth, the

casing I I is evacuated by a suitable pump 32', and

in the suction line between the casing and the pump'is a valve 3| by means of which the suction may be regulated as required. As previously set forth, the suction in the secondary area may directly with its depth. By providinga means for indicating the depth at this point, and having determined the volume of flow as outlined above, a quick calculating device may be used to accurately determine velocity or conversely the adjustments necessary to attain a desired velocity. Such indicating device may be operatively associated with one of the threaded rods which constitute the suspension means for the memher 65, the rod being indicated in Figure '7 by the reference numeral 9|. It'will be apparent that the elevation of this rod will bear a fixed relation to the depth of the passage at the point where it joins the forming zone. Mounted at the top of the section 33, see Figure 7,ls a bracket 92 to which is pivotally connected a bell crank lever93. One arm of this lever seats upon the upper end of the rod SI and the other end is connected to a pointer 94 which is also pivotally supported in the bracket. A spring 95 tends to retain the lever 93 in a position wherein the one arm seats solidly upon the threaded rod 9|. The bracket also carries a dial 96 which in conjunction with the pointer 94, indicates the cross-section area of the passage at the stated position, say in square inches. It will be noted further that the contour of the cover element 66 over the forming zone may be modified as required through the members and H to conform to the stock stream; and that the spacing .of the outer edge of the cover member 66 from the wire I may also be regulated by adjustment of the member II as previously set forth. Since the wire atthis point is supported directly on the roll, the space between the outer edge of the member 66 and the wire will remain substantially constant close.

These elements of control, and the associated indicating devices, afford extremely flexible and precise regulation of the machine function, and in conjunction with the forming means previously described makes possible production of substantially any character of web at machine speeds materially in excess of those heretofore found practicable. The control means provides also for rapid and precise correction for possible variations in the freeness of the stock-suspension .or in other factors affecting the uniformity of the end product;

At the high speeds of which the machine is capable,' say in excess of 2000 feet per minute, the suspension flows through the passage 3 at a velocity which in accordance with known hydraulic principles effects turbulence of a 'character tending to distribute the fibres uniformly and in random dispositionin the stream. The section 91 of the passage immediately in advance of the forming zone is preferably adjusted to constant cross-sectional area and is of a length to permit the fibres to redistribute themselves after acceleration in the preceding contracting portion. In this section theconstant high velocity is such as to insure turbulent flow of an order affording a completely random disposition ofthe fibres in the stream as it"enters the forming area. When, therefore, the velocity of the stream and the 9 speed of the wire are the same the fibres are laid upon the wire in this same random arrangement and with such rapidity that the resulting paper web will be entirely free from coagulation and will exhibit the uniform strength in all directions characteristic of a square formation. By adjusting the machine so that the speed of .the wire exceeds the delivery velocity of the stream and the wire so that adjustment is not complicated by directional effects arising from other causes, such for example as that which would result if the stock stream were accelerating as it approached the forming area.

As previously set forth, the object of this in vention is to provide a method and machine for attaining excellent web formation at speeds in given speed of operation. Pressure and suction may be applied without limitation because: First, the forming wire is supported on a cylinder in the forming area and is, therefore, not-subject to deformation and tensile stress, and second, the undrained portion of the stream is so small and-is so directed that the mat of fibre carried by the wire is not appreciably disturbed regardless of the velocity at which this minorportion is spouted by the pressure within the forming area. At the high speeds afforded by this forced drainage the disposal of an extremely large volume of water is necessary and the method and means for handling this water as previously set forth is provided as an essential adjunct to the forming process. To afford the desired excellence of web formation, means have been provided to positively establish the stream delivery velocity and to control its relation to the velocity of the forming wire. The stream velocity itself has been utilized to disperse the fibres of the stream into random and uniform distribution and this dispersion is, therefore, enhanced rather than disturbed by increasing speeds of operation.

I to separate the stock fibres from the water of said stream, means for draining substantially all of the water content of the stream into the said cellular periphery within the limits of said area, means to preclude outward discharge of any material part of the water from said periphery and to ,retain in said periphery a major part of the said drained water during a predetermined angular movement of the cylinder beyond the said area, and means for effecting discharge of the water thus retained outwardly from the periphery between the reaches of and remote to the Mn.

2. In a machine /for forming paper webs, a, rotary cylinder, a traveling forming wire trained about the cylinder, means for draining the water from a suspension of paper stock through the wire within a longitudinal area thereof directly overlying the cylinder, an open cellular receptacle in the periphery of the cylinder extending over the entire circumferenceof the latter and adapted to receive and temporarily retain substantially all of the water thus drained, and means for effecting discharge of the said water outwardly from the periphery between the reaches of said wire.

3. In a machine for forming paper webs, a rotary cylinder, a traveling forming wire trained about the cylinder, means for delivering a stream of dilute paper stock to the wire within an enclosed area at the surface of the latter, said area lying -against the cylinder and extending about a short circumferential area of the latter, and means for continuously draining substantially all of the water of said stream through the wire within the limits of said enclosed area, said delivery means comprising an enclosed passage having at the delivery end a longitudinal terminal section of substantially uniform cross-sectional area throughout, stock supply means for creating a high-velocity flow of the dilute stock through said passage to create uniform turbulent flow and resulting random disposition and uniform distribution of the stock fibres in the stream in the said enclosed area, and means in said cylinder for continuously conducting the drained water from the said area.

4. In a machine for forming paper webs, a suction roll, a traveling forming wire trained about said roll, an enclosed duct extending aption and cross current irregularities which occur on the long forming area of the conventional Fourdrinier machine and are apparent in the finished web. By the elimination of operating speed as a limiting factor in formation and by the inclusion of precise operating controls this invention has provided the means and methods proximately tangentially to the roll and enclosing an area of-the wire overlying the roll, the periphery of said roll being composed of open cells having adepth conforming substantially to the depth of the portion of the duct immediately adjoining the roll, means for applying suction to said open periphery from the interior of the roll, and means for maintaining suction on the open periphery substantially beyond the. position where the wire leaves the roll.

5. In a machine for forming paper webs, a breast r011 having an open cellular periphery, a traveling forming wire trained about the roll, means for deliverin dilute paper stock to the wire, said means including a duct extending to and enclosing a longitudinal area of the wire against the roll so that within said area substantially all of the water delivered by the duct is directed through the wire and into the receptacle formed by said cellular periphery, said receptacle having sufficient capacity to retain for continuous withdrawal therein from said enclosed area substantially all of the water thus passing through the wire, and suction means for counteracting the centrifugal forces tending to throw the said. water out of the receptacle and operative in conjunction with said forces to retain at least a major part of the water in the receptacle while passing from said zone for subsequent discharge outwardly from said receptacle at a point removed from the wire within the free space between the reaches of the latter.

6. In a machine for forming paper webs, a breast roll having an open cellular periphery, a traveling forming wire trained about the roll, means for delivering dilute paper stock to the wire, said means including a duct extending to and enclosing a longitudinal area of the wire against the roll so that within said area substantially all of the water delivered by the duct is directed through the wire and into the receptacle formed by said; cellular periphery, said re- 12 9. In a machine for forming paper webs, a

breast roll having an open cellular periphery,

a traveling forming wire trained about the roll,

means for delivering dilute paperstock to the wire, saiifmeans including a duct extending to and enclosing a longitudinal area of the wire against the roll so that within said area substantially all of the water delivered by the duct ceptacle having sufllcient capacity to retain for continuous withdrawal therein from said enclosed area substantially all of the water thus passing through the wire, and means for counteracting'the centrifugal forces tending to throw the said water out of the receptacle and operative in conjunction with said forces to retain at least a major part of the water in the receptacle while passing from said area for subsequent discharge outwardly from said receptacle at a point removed from the wire within the free space between the reaches of the latter. '7. In a machine for forming paper webs, abreast roll having an open cellular periphery, a

traveling forming wire trained about the roll,' means for delivering dilute paper stock to the wire, said means including a duct extending to and enclosing a, longitudinal area of the wire against the roll so that within said area substan- 'tially all of the water delivered by the duct is f directed through the wire and into the receptacle formed by said cellular periphery, said receptacle having suflicient capacity to contain for continuous withdrawal therein from said area of a major traveling forming wire trained about the roll,

means for delivering dilute paper stock to the wire, said means including a duct extending to and enclosing a longitudinal area of the wire against the roll so that within said area substantially all of the waterdelivered by the duct is directed through the wire and into the receptacle formed by said cellular periphery, and suction means for counteracting the centrifugal forces tending to throw the said water out of the receptacle and constructed and arranged to operate in conjunction. with said forces to retain the water in the receptacle, said suction means being operative in a segment of the circular path adjoining said second position so that in the latter segment the unbalanced centrifugal forces act to discharge the water outwardly from the receptacle.

is directed through the wire and into thereceptacle formed by said cellular periphery, means for applying suction to the receptacle within said area to augment the pressure in the duct tending to force the said water through the wire, and means for applying suction to the receptacle in the area extending from the said enclosed area,

to a terminal position between the reaches of and remote to the wire to counteract the centrifugal forces tending to throw said water out of the receptacle, said latter means being constructed and arranged to operate in conjunction with said forces to preclude outward discharge of any material part of the water contained in said receptacle and to retain a major portion of the water in the receptacle for subsequent outward discharge at said terminalposition.

10. The method of removing water from a stock suspension to form a. paper web which consists in continuously draining substantially all of the water from a stream of said suspension through a traveling forming wire into the open cellular periphery of a roll about which the wire is trained, accelerating said drainage by suction.

' applied to said cells from the interior of the roll so as to complete the drainage within a small angular movement of the roll, retaining the major part of the drained water in the cells until the latter move to a position between the upper and lower reachesof the'wire, and discharging the water outwardly from the cells at said position.

11. The method of forming paper webs which consists in delivering a stream of dilute paper stock to an enclosed zone at the surface of a traveling forming wire,'draining water from said stream through the wire within said zone with resultant formation upon the wire of a mat of the stock fibres, discharging a residual portion of the stream over the mat as it leaves said zone modification 0f the mat irrespective of the velocof the receptacle extending between the position ity of said discharge relative to the speed of travel of the wire, said drainage being effected at least partially by static pressure in the stream, andsaid pressure being sufficient in conjunction with the initial velocity of the stream to produce a spouting velocity of said discharge greater than the speed of the wire.

12. The method of forming paper webs which consists in delivering a stream of dilute paper stock to an enclosed zone at the surface of a traveling forming wire, draining water from said stream through the wire within said zone with resultant formation upon the wire of a mat of the stock fibres, discharging a residual portion of the stream over the mat as it leaves said zone substantially in the direction of travel of the mat and without impinging upon the latter, and limiting the amount of said discharge to approximately 5% of the stream so as to avoid material modification of the mat irrespective of the velocity of said discharge relative to the speed of travel of the wire, said drainage being eifected 13 at least partially :by static pressure in the stream, and said pressure being sufficient in conjunction with the initial velocity of the stream to produce a spouting velocity of said discharge greater than the speed 01' the wire.

13. The method which consists in delivering a stream oi dilute paper stock to an enclosed zone at the surface of a roll having an open cellular periphery, passing substantially all of the water of said stream through a forming wire trained about said roll and into the said peripheral cells, and retaining substantially all of the water so passed through the wire in the cells for removal from said zone and subsequent discharge outwardly from said cells to free space between the reaches of the wire.

, 14. The method which consists in delivering a stream of dilute paper stock to an enclosed zone at the surface of a roll having an open cellular periphery, passing substantially all of the water 01' said stream through a forming wire trained about said roll and into the said peripheral cells, retaining a major part of the water so passed through the wire in the cells for removal from said zone, and subsequently discharging the retained water outwardly from said cells to free space between the reaches 01' the wire.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein the dilute stock is delivered to the roll in a stream of given depth, and wherein said stream depth is substantially maintained during passage through the wire and within the peripheral cells.

16. The method which consists in delivering a stream of dilute paper stock in a stream of given depth to the surface of a roll having an open cellular periphery, and passing substantially all of the water or said stream through a forming wire trained about said roll and into the said peripheral cells while substantially maintaining said depth during and immediately following said Passage.

HARRY M. OSTERTAG.

FRANCIS O. BOYLAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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